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Thursday, 27 June, 2002, 10:18 GMT 11:18 UK
Jackson denies Welsh snub
Colin Jackson
Jackson will not be competing at the Welsh Games
Colin Jackson's manager has refuted suggestions that the world record-holder has turned his back on next month's Welsh Games.

The Welshman will not compete in the 110 metres hurdles in the Cardiff event on 8 July but Austrian Robert Wagner insists the meeting never figured in their plans.

Jackson, a winner in his fastest time for two years at the Spar European Cup in Annecy last weekend, will instead compete abroad as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

"Colin flew to a time of 13.15 seconds last weekend. Now he wants to improve even further - and faster times will come at European meetings," Wagner said.

"He honoured a commitment to compete in the Welsh trials earlier this month. There were empty lanes at the meeting and Paul Gray was the only reasonable opponent.


My job is to get Colin into the best meetings available.
Colin Jackson's agent Robert Wagner

"Before Manchester and Munich he needs tough races for both the good of himself and both the Welsh and British teams. He is a genuine favourite for both events."

Denying he had been contacted by Athletics Association of Wales director of athletics Steve Brace about Jackson's appearance, Wagner insisted: "I plan Colin's racing programme and no one from the organising committee has spoken with me.

"If they don't have my number they could have got it through UK Athletics.

"Colin is also not running in Prague as has been reported - that was on 16 June. He is competing at the IAAF Grand Prix 2 meeting in Zagreb."

Wagner's statement directly contradicts Brace's earlier assertion, when he said that: "I have left messages on his (Jackson's) answerphone and with his agent, but I have had no feedback.

"He gave his promise back in February that he would be there."

Even if Jackson was to change his mind and attempt to run in the Welsh Games, it would now not be allowed.

"The contracts for Jackson and my other athletes to compete in Zagreb was signed in April as a package deal," Wagner explained.

"If he were to pull out now, IAAF rules would prevent him running anywhere else until 48 hours later.

"This is Colin's last competitive outdoor season. He wants to finish on a high note in both major championship races.

"He's been around a long time and knows exactly what is required to be fully ready to take on the best in both competitions.

"My job as his racing manager is to get him into the best meetings available."

Last season Jackson rendered himself ineligible for this year's Commonwealth Games by refusing to compete at the Welsh Championships.

But AAW officials, desperate for Jackson to compete in Manchester, bent the rules for Wales' most successful hurdler, allowing him to join the squad.

The 35-year-old former world champion represents one of Wales' strongest medal hopes in Manchester.


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